Lasting-machine



(No Model.)

1-: s GOMBS LASTING MAOHINE.

No. 436,772. Patented Sept. 23, 1890.

7 ELY 57166666.

2 Wm Mu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR S. OOMBS, OF ROCHESTER, NEIV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM S. KING, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

LASTlNG-MACHINE' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,772, dated September 23, 1890.

I Application filed October 6,1888- Serial No. 287.358. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR S. COMES, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lasting-Machines, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to lasting-machines; and it consists in a toe-support for the last capable of being withdrawn at pleasure to relieve the upper of pressure during the stretching of the same from heel to toe.

The invention is more especially designed for use in a machine of the character set forth in Letters PatentNo. 387 ,366, granted to Paine,

[5 Gray, and Pettce on the 7th day of August, 1888, but is susceptible of application to other machines as well. The details of construction are also susceptible of variation, the only essential being that the toe-rest shall be ca pable of ready withdrawal, when desired.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of those parts necessary to illus- 2 5 trate my invention, and Figs. 3 and 4 views illustrating means for controlling the toe-rest by foot.

All parts not herein shown or specifically described maybe of the construction set forth in the patent aforesaid, and need not therefore be more explicitly referred to herein.

In the practical operation of these machines I have discovered that the pressure upon the upper between the last and the toe-support 3 5 interferes with the free longitudinal stretching of the upper, restricting the stretching or causing it to take place principally or entirely from the toe-rest forward, or necessitating such a pull upon the leather as shall 0 cause it to slip between the last and the toesupport or to force back the latter. It is also observed in practice that after the shoe is lasted, if the toe-rest be held up firmly against the upper, the side jaws in moving back are 5 apt to pull the edges of the upper off the insole or to tear the same, for which reason, also, it is desirable to withdraw the toe-rest after the lasting has been performed. I provide for the withdrawal and return of the toe-support in the manner represented in the drawings, in which--= A indicates the last; B, the heel post or support; O, the toe-rest, and D the toe-pinchers by which the upper is drawn lengthwise of the. last and stretched over the toe or fore part of the last.

The toe-rest C is formed with a stem or shank a, which slides longitudinally within a tubular post or support E, and is there connected with a lever F, pivoted to ears on the post E, and serving to move the shank or stem a and with it the toe-rest- 0 toward or from the last at will. In practice I prefer to make that portion of the stem or shank which passes through the bottom or rear of the post smaller than the upper or forward end of the same, and to encircle the reduced portion by a coiled spring G, acting to press the toe-rest toward the last; but this is not essential.

WVhen the spring is used, itmay be made stiff enough to hold the toe-rest against the upper with such force as is necessary to give adequate support to the last, or it may be only stiff enough to advance the toe rest preparatory to itsbeing made fast by a suitable locking device. This may be advantageouslyaccomplishedby providing the lever F with a locking-bolt b, controlled by a handpiece or grip c and arranged to engage in one or another of a series of notches cl, formed in a curved rack-bar H, carried by the tubular post E, said locking-bolt serving to hold the lever and consequently the toe-rest in whatever position may be given it. It will of course be understood that when this arrangement is adopted the lever will Work between two shoulders or collars e on the end of the shank or stem (1, as shown in Fig. 2, so that it shall move the shank or stem positively in both di-' rections and prevent its movement in either Y direction except with the lever.

The lever F may be actuated by hand or a rod, or other connection may pass therefrom to a stirrup, treadle, or other device to be actuated by the foot. In other words, it is wholly immaterial in what manner the lever be actuated, and, in fact, a cord, chain, or other device may be attached directly to the rear end of the stem or shank and pass over a suitable pulley or other guide to a stirrup, treadle, or like device. In other words, my invention consists, broadly, in providing a machine with a toe-rest freely movable toward and from the last and with means for receding said rest from the last, Figs. 3 and 4 illustrating obvious equivalents for the construction shown in Fig. 2, and designed to permit the control of the toe-rest by foot instead of by hand.

The invention above set forth is to be distinguished from the common last-supports, which are capable of adjustment to suit different lasts, but which are firmly held at one adjustment so long as the particular last for which the adjustment is made remains in position. It is further to be distinguished from machines in which a toe-rest for the last is connected to and moves with the lasting devices or their actuating mechanism, and which during the stretching of the upper remains in contact therewith.

The object of my invention is to remove all pressure upon the upper between the last and the toe-support of the last during the stretching operation. This result is an important one, and has never before been attained, so far as I am aware.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a lasting-machine, the combination, substantially as set forth and shown, of a last, a toe-support therefor freely movable toward and from the last regardless of the movements of the lasting devices or their actuating mechanism, and a retracting device connected with said toe-support and under control of the attendant, whereby the toe-support may be withdrawn from the last at will.

2. In a lasting-machine, the, combination of a last, a toe-rest wholly disconnected from the lasting devices and movable toward and from the last, and a leverconnected with the toe-rest and under control of the operator, substantially as shown and described, whereby the toe-rest may be positively moved toward or from the last at will.

3. In a lasting-machine, the combination of a last, a toe-support therefor free at all times to be moved toward and from the last, a lever connected with the toe-rest and servwith the toe-support and serving to withdraw the same from the last during the action of said pinchers, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with a last and with pinchers movable in the direction of the length of the last, a toe-support for the last, and a lever connected with said toe-support and serving to move the same both toward and from the last, substantially as shown and described.

6. In combination with a last and with pinchers movable in the direction of the length thereof, a toe-support for the last, a lever connected with the toe-support, and a locking device for holding said lever in its adj usted position, substantially as set forth and shown.

'7. In a lasting-machine, the combination of lastA, toe-support 0, provided with shank ct, tubular post E, spring G, and lever F.

8. In a lasting-machine, the combination of last A, toe-support 0, provided with shank a, tubular post E, provided with rack-bar H, spring G, and lever F, provided with lockingbolt 1) to engage with the rack-bar.

9. In a lasting-machine, the combination, substantially as shown and described, of a last, heel and toe supports therefor, stretching devices for stretching an upper upon the last, and a lever connected with the toe-support, whereby said support may be withdrawn from the last during the stretching of the upper lengthwise thereof.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

EDGAR S. COMES.

WVitnesses:

P. A. CosTIcH, H. M. GOODHUE. 

